While in the area recently, I visited Arizona State University.
A few takeaways from my visit:
ASU is all about access. The university has multiple locations including Tempe (where I toured), downtown Phoenix, West Valley, and the Polytechnic campus to provide a variety of on-campus experiences and academic programs for students. As our tour guide noted, the university is not one to brag about a low acceptance rate, instead, it celebrates how many students served, with 68,000 students on the Tempe campus alone!
I often tout the benefits of an Honors College experience at a large public school. ASU’s Barrett Honors College is a great example of this - with dedicated housing and advising, it gives a more tailored, smaller college experience to motivated students. I recommend students look out for the separate Barrett application in the application process.
The Tempe campus reminded me of my experience touring the University of Nevada at Las Vegas - very flat, very bikeable, with native plants throughout. One of the most frequented walkways on campus is lined with date palms providing a shady walk from the hot Arizona temps for students on their way to class.
While ASU participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) tuition reduction program, it is only for select majors at select campuses. It’s important to do your research on this.
Go Sun Devils!
